I had a really rough time watching it... I felt unsettled. Adapted from Eddie Bunker’s novel No Beast So Fierce, the movie centers on Dustin Hoffman playing ex-con Max Dembo, who intends to live an honest life after his release from prison. That proves more difficult than he imagined. It's surprising that Straight Time is frequently considered a lesser-known film, a forgotten treasure of the 1970s, especially considering it features Dustin Hoffman and has received considerable attention online over the years. It does seem to be overlooked though, which is frustrating because it contains one of Hoffman’s finest portrayals. Hoffman was very enthusiastic about the story and wanted both to direct and star in it. He realized that wasn't possible for him, and he graciously brought in his friend Ulu Grosbard to handle directing while he focused on acting – and it paid off! There is no attempt at glossing over anything; Max finds himself surrounded by untrustworthy people—deceivers, addicts, and petty criminals—and his own stability is questionable. The world he’s presented with is both captivating and upsetting, and there's a sense of realism, without self-pity or excuses; he eventually comes to terms with his situation. Hoffman receives excellent support from Harry Dean Stanton, M. Emmet Walsh, and Gary Busey, and Theresa Russell delivers a strong performance as the innocent woman in Max’s life—she's not just there for decoration; she is caught up in the life of a dangerous criminal. As an examination of a character, it’s remarkably intelligent and powerfully raw, and Grosbard directs with understated skill while demonstrating a keen sense for dramatic moments. Studio meddling initially harmed the film's reception, but now its true value can be appreciated. 9/10

Source on TMDB